Arc Trials Day - Prix Foy

1.30 Longchamp

Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner €74,374

Advice: 1 pt Orfevre to win today and the Arc (8/1 Totesport)

Fiorente: Not quite built upon all the immense promise that he’s shown last year (notably when runner up to Nathaniel at Royal Ascot on just third start) but back to something like best when readily beating Johsua Tree in Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket last time; Needs much more here to get involved although not impossible that he can

Meandre: Sixth in the Arc last year after extremely progressive campaign; Had Danedream and Shareta well behind when winning Grand Prix De Saint Cloud in middling race and probably more impressive when winning German Group 1 last time out; Has the turn of foot for a slowly run race although he was beaten in Niel last year; Has to be considered seriously though.

Joshua Tree: Had been largely progressive this season before runner up finish to Fiorente in Princess Of Wales’s Stakes; Won the Prix Kergolay in fair style last time out as he was entitled to do so but hard to see him taking this.

Orfevre: Japanese Triple Crown winner (first since 2005 when Deep Impact, 3^rd in this race, did so) who added Arima Kinen to that list to underline his class n world stage; This season not quite gone to plan but would have won Hanshin Dahiten but for erratic running style and two length defeat of Rulership in Tarazuka Kinen suggests that poor showing inbetween can be written off; This just a prep but hopeful that he can run a big race and stamp class; Has pacemaker and handles most kind of ground.

Aventino: Pacemaker for Orfevre.

VERDICT: One of the best days racing of the year with Arc trials day, with along with the St Ledger signals the start of the lucrative autumn prizes. With temperatures set to reach almost 25c during the day the ground should be pretty decent for this time of year, placing even more emphasis for today solely upon speed. On form this lies between Meandre and ORFEVRE, with token preference for the Japanese superstar and Triple Crown winner who looked back to his best when winning the Tarzuka Kinen last time out, beating a solid yardstick in Rulership with a bit in hand at the end. If at his best, the 11/10 for today is a fair token choice, although the 8/1 to win today and double up in the Arc looks to be of some value if he’s at his best. Meandre must be respected, with his Grand Prix De Saint Cloud win showing that he possesses a nifty run of foot in a small field, although this might be run at a fairly decent gallop with Aviate in the field. Fiorente deserved a solid mention but the form of the Princes Of Wales’s Stakes wasn’t that great and this is far tougher.